Fiddle Yard Modification

I wasn't planning to start work on the fiddle yard until February but as there are no more scheduled outings for a couple of months I decided to begin lifting the track from the rear fiddle yard sections from one of the three boards.

The current arrangement has proven to be too awkward, particularly when trying to access the outer loop from the fiddle yard. This involves stopping whatever is running on the inside loop while the changeover occurs, I didn't install any safety devices to halt the trains and the Deltics, with their rubber tyres and long rakes of goods wagons, don't appreciate being stopped suddenly.

Even the inner loop has been troublesome, the twists & curves associated with accessing the fiddle yard, and the additional curves due to the way the points are fitted means that changing locos is normally done by manual intervention, ie lifting the loco off the track by hand. 

So it's time for this configuration to go - no more twisty bits and two crossovers removed from the layout...

 Barely a few minutes later and the bulk of the track is stripped. I'll be leaving the straight tracks on the edge of the board in-situ, the amended fiddle yard will connect with the original tracks here for two reasons. Firstly because it will reduce the amount of modification work needed to the centre rear board (as the tracks will still line up) and secondly because of the location of the run-around loop, I need to ensure that the track layout remains in the same overall location so that the connecting track still lines up properly.

Beginning to loose-lay the modified points, the overhanging track will be cut to fit...

With the tracks secured into position and the new PCBs and wiring in place, time to start wiring the points and track sections...

Once all that was done and all the track sections tested, time to add in the manual points for the new loco sidings at the edges, these will be used to accommodate locos only. The plan is that the new, long, straight sidings will accommodate whole trains - three on each side, six complete rakes stored ready to run. The outer sidings will be used for prepping trains, swapping locos and making any changes to the train rakes. I'll add some uncouplers to aid with this.

Although it's no longer possible to access the outer loop from the rear of the layout, I can use the run-round at the front to change locos from one side of the yard to the other. I'll probably keep the outer loop for EMU / Diesel locos and keep the steam locos on the inner side due to the access to the turntable at the front being much easier from this side.

One down, two to go...